Russia's major attack on Ukraine's energy sector, and the Zaporizhya nuclear plant is on the brink of blackout

Russian forces launched a major attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the early hours of Friday, March 22. This led to power outages in several cities, the implementation of emergency schedules, and reports of casualties.

Attack on the Dnipro Hydroelectric Dam

Zaporizhia faced a massive onslaught, with the city reported to have been subjected to 12 missile attacks. According to To Ivan Fedorov, Head of the Regional Military Administration (OVA).

Preliminary information indicates that seven buildings were destroyed, while 35 buildings were damaged. Fedorov said: “There are wounded, and we are in the process of confirming the number of victims.”

Petro Andryushenko, an advisor to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, revealed that a missile hit a trolleybus traveling across the Dnipro hydropower dam during the Russian attack. The trolleybus was busy at that time.

The bombing of the city led to the complete closure of the road crossing the Dnipro hydroelectric dam.

In response to this situation, the Center for Countering Disinformation highlighted that Russia is planning a series of information and psychological operations (IPSO) in the wake of mass attacks on energy infrastructure. False reports have already spread, including claims that the dam has been destroyed and warnings that Ukraine will be left entirely without power.

The center explained that “all this information is incorrect.”

A fire has been reported at the dam, and emergency services and energy workers are currently on site.

Other topics of interest

ISW assessment of the Russian offensive campaign, March 20, 2024

The latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Zaporizhya nuclear plant is on the verge of a power outage

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haloshenko announced on Facebook that Russia is currently carrying out the largest attack on the Ukrainian energy industry in modern history. He added that the attack led to the disruption of one of the power transmission lines supplied by the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear power site, in the early days of the conflict, but it is still supported by Ukrainian lines on its electricity grid.

“During a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine at 5:10 a.m., the external overhead line connecting the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to the Unified Energy System of Ukraine was cut,” Ukrainian atomic energy company Energoatom said. mentioned.

“This situation poses an extreme danger and could lead to an emergency,” the letter said.

Energoatom also warned that if the final power line was cut, the plant would be “on the verge of another power outage, which constitutes a serious violation of the plant's safe operating conditions.”

Energy collapse in Kharkiv

Russian forces launched more than 15 raids on energy facilities in Kharkiv, plunging the city into almost complete darkness.

“All emergency services are already working.” mentioned Oleh Sinyhopov, Head of the Regional Military Administration.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov male Due to the lack of electrical power at the pumping substations, the city is facing water supply problems. In addition, electric transportation, such as trolleybuses and trams, will not be available along regular routes in the morning, as buses operate under a blackout system.

In the wake of a massive missile attack, Kharkiv's subway currently serves only as a shelter.

Emergency power outages in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih

In Dnipro, some areas experienced power outages due to the strikes.

A joint missile and witness drone strike by Russian forces hit the Kryvyi Rih district of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

“Critical infrastructure has been impacted, resulting in the city implementing emergency shutdown schedules.” advertiser Oleksandr Vilkul, Chairman of the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih.

Hospitals and other basic facilities switched to using electric generators, but no casualties were reported.

In Kamyansky, Dnipropetrovsk region, most of the city is without electricity, According to To Mayor Andrey Belousov. Water supply and heating facilities were affected, tram traffic stopped, and today schools are operating remotely with nurseries closing at noon.

Russian attacks in different regions

In the Sumy region, missile strikes on power system facilities led to the temporary introduction of emergency shutdown schedules in the Sumy, Konotop and Shostka regions. Charging points are available for phones and gadgets, as energy workers strive to restore power.

Russian forces also attacked the Khmelnytskyi region, causing damage to infrastructure and known casualties.

Khmelnytsky Mayor Oleksandr Semchishin described The raid described the morning as “terrible,” noting the damage to infrastructure and residential buildings, in addition to casualties.

In the Vinnitsa region, a hybrid tactic involving drones and cruise missiles was used. Serhiy Borzov, President of Vinnitsa OVA, mentioned A strike on a critical infrastructure facility.

In the Lviv region, a drone strike hit an energy infrastructure facility in the Stry district, causing a fire that firefighters are currently working to extinguish. In addition, a fire broke out in a forest massif in the Zolochiv region.

Explosions were heard in Prykarpattia during the Russian air strike, as drones and missiles targeted the area, resulting in casualties.

“There was a strike on a critical infrastructure target.” advertiser Svetlana Onychuk, President of OVA.

Initial reports indicate that one person was injured, and no power outages were recorded in the area.

Zelensky responded

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, noting that Russian forces used more than 60 Shahed drones and nearly 90 missiles of different types.

He added: “The world is clearly witnessing the targets of Russian terrorists: power plants, power supply lines, a hydroelectric dam, ordinary residential buildings, and even a trolleybus.”

“Russia is waging a war against people's normal lives. Zelensky added: “My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those lost in this terrorist act.”

Zelensky stressed ongoing efforts to restore electricity supplies, stressing that there are no delays in Russian missiles, “unlike aid packages for our country.”

“Shahid’s planes are not hesitant, unlike some politicians. It is essential to understand the cost of delay and deferred decisions. Patriot systems must protect Kharkiv and Zaporizhia; The Ukrainian president said that air defense is necessary to protect lives, infrastructure, homes and dams.

He reiterated the need for Ukraine's partners to quickly provide essential weapons to defend against the threats posed by “these non-humans from Moscow.”